talkmagic.co.uk

Hey everyone, first off I'd like to start by saying I'm not looking for a lot of free secrets on how to do tricks or anything like that. I'm also not sure if this is the right section for this, but I'll give it a shot.

I've always admired magicians - keeping a little bit of magic alive in this world is an awesome thing that can even make a grown adult feel like a kid again. As a younger kid I always dabbled with tricks and such out of library books, but the prospect of "real" magic has recently been intriguing me again.

One of the bigger questions I have is, how does one get into this seriously? From seeing a few shows, I've seen magicians with really elaborate and awe inspiring tricks do some really incredible looking things. I have just always wondered how "they" got into it. Does it work primarily as a master/apprentice thing, as far as tricks go? Do many magicians create their own right away, as a way to get started? (this seems challenging to me) Or perhaps do people go to conventions or something to learn?

I've just sort of been interested in really looking into it, and from what I've seen most people are pretty tenetive to give away their secrets - so my main inquiry is...if this is true...how does a newbie magician get their start on the road to amazingly cool tricks. Some of the things I think would be cool to learn would be similar to optical illusions, like I've seen people spin cards between their palms, suspended in mid-air. I've seen people drop a ball from one hand to another, but the balls seemed to be falling very very slowly.

Just stuff like this I think would be great to learn - if anyone could point me in some helpful directions, it would greatly be appreciated.

...how does one get into this seriously? From seeing a few shows, I've seen magicians with really elaborate and awe inspiring tricks do some really incredible looking things.

You have to crawl before you can walk. Get a copy of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It is a huge book at a great price and will give you an excellent grouding in magic.

Keep in mind, how incredible anything looks is directly proportional to the magician's ability to present what he does with showmanship. What I'm saying is that a little "nothing" trick in the right hands can be a miracle and a miracle in the wrong hands can be a little "nothing" trick. It's up to you to make magic, well, magic.

Does it work primarily as a master/apprentice thing, as far as tricks go?

It can. If you get lucky enough to find a mentor, it will speed up your learning process. However, it is not a requirement. Your first step, though, should be to get the book that I suggested above.

If you have a local magic group (IBM, or another) you may wish to look into that. Hopefully, you have a magic shop close and they will be able to assist you in finding any local clubs.

Now, clubs can be good or bad - it depends on the members. I've heard just as many bad stories about local clubs as I've heard good ones. So, whether or not you join will be a matter of if you like the folks that are in the group or not. Don't feel that you are required to be in a club if you don't want to be or if you don't feel welcomed there.

Do many magicians create their own right away, as a way to get started? (this seems challenging to me) Or perhaps do people go to conventions or something to learn?

Well, you've taken the first step, haven't you? You've joined an internet group and asked for help in finding a your way. There is neither a right way nor a wrong way.

Browse these pages and read all the threads that catch your eye. You'll find a great deal of good advice on different areas of magic as well as presentational hints and tips and so much more. Again, I can't impress upon you enough that it's not the trick that makes the magic, it's the performer doing the trick that makes or breaks it.

Furthermore, the magic industry is a vast wasteland of stuff that they'll try to sell you as the next greatest miracle. Be very careful when deciding to buy these things. One of the pleasures that you'll find is buying nifty stuff to play with, but you have to be careful or you'll also find your credit cards maxed out...You don't want that to happen. Peruse the reviews area of this site and the many others that are out there on the internet.

Conventions are a great way to meet other magicians with all sorts of different skill levels and get advice from the pros who are lecturing. Yes, go to conventions.

So, take that first step and get yourself a copy of Wilson's book. You won't regret that.

Now, for the next step:

Wilson's covers a huge array of magic fields between the covers - Cards, coins, rope, impromptu and more...Even stage illusions.

Pick out a few tricks that you really like and want to learn, then learn them! But, put the time into them before you show them. Make sure that you have them down 100%, backward and forward. One of the main things that stops a beginner magician is that they get caught and it's a bad feeling to get caught. After that, they don't want to do magic anymore. So, make sure that you have it down 100% and you don't get caught.

You'll find that you'll gravitate toward one particular kind of magic that you will probably want to specialize in. It may be cards, it may be coins, it may be ropes and it may even be stage illusion. This is where you should put the bulk of your time and money into. If cards, then pick up a copy of "The Royal Road to Card Magic" (Hugard & Braue). If coins, then pick up a copy of "Modern Coin Magic" (Bobo).

(There are those who will suggest that the books above are not your best choices, so when you're ready to invest in a book or DVD that you'd like to start learning from then post again and get some other opinions...Then, make your choice!)

I suggest that you spend 90% of your time working on the specialized field of your choice, but still set aside 10% of your time to work on other stuff because you should at least be well rounded.

Keep posting for advice when you need to and feel free to jump in where you're comfortable.

Best wishes on your new road.

Mike.

Michael Jay wrote:You have to crawl before you can walk. Get a copy of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It is a huge book at a great price and will give you an excellent grouding in magic.

I can second this recommendation...

Michael Jay wrote:If cards, then pick up a copy of "The Royal Road to Card Magic" (Hugard & Braue). If coins, then pick up a copy of "Modern Coin Magic" (Bobo).

Again I can recommend both of these too...

Actually I ordered the Mark Wilson Complete Course and RRTCM together from a well known online book store, it took a few weeks to come but I did get a good price.

I've just received a shiny new copy of BoBo's Modern Coin magic I managed to find, again online, a new copy at £2.78 too good to pass up...

Also, as Michael Jay says, be wary of buying the next best thing...spend your money wisely, you're supposed to be enjoying this new thing you've taken up don't max the credit cards so you spend most of your time worrying about that! (easier said than done I appreciate as you can tell from the Bobo book...I can't stop spending...!)

p.s. other books/training materials are available! I'm sure some other recommendations will be along shortly!

Thanks again so much for the tips, they were very appreciated.

I'll have to check out those beginner's books - it seems like the best way to get started is to learn all the basic moves that magicians use to develop other tricks. I've already started learning to spin a card on my middle finger, to help build ambidexterity and precision in my hands.

If anyone else has any other tips, those would be great to hear. Otherwise, I'll have to just start from the ground up with the basics out of books and possibly a dvd or two.

Thanks again for the advice. I'll have to start practicing. =)

The Wilson book isn't simply "a beginner's book." It is a book that you'll continue to refer back to for years to come.

Lance Burton took a trick out of those pages, which he presented on television, nationally televised. It was, move for move, exactly what was in that book.

I'd hardly list Burton as a beginner. He just knows a good book when he sees one.

Mike.

Michael Jay wrote:The Wilson book isn't simply "a beginner's book." It is a book that you'll continue to refer back to for years to come.

Lance Burton took a trick out of those pages, which he presented on television, nationally televised. It was, move for move, exactly what was in that book.

I'd hardly list Burton as a beginner. He just knows a good book when he sees one.

Mike.

I have to completely agree with Mike on this one. This is not a beginner’s book; it is a book that explains effects on an extraordinary level which makes it easy for beginners to understand. It contains effects for beginners, as well as tricks for intermediates and professionals. An effect from the book was even performed by Cyril Takayama on his Korean T.V. Special (I believe it was in Korea) almost exactly as it is explained in Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, in fact, the only difference was using a slightly better sleight (no pun intended).

It is a must have, especially because, like Mike said, you will be referring to it for years to come.

~David

That books sounds invaluable, I'll definitelly look into picking it up this week.

Hey Urb, you actually start in a completely wrong place here!
You should start byreading this and then checkthis out and participate!!!
You see... First things first!

*Fixes Sig*

Well that fixes that. =P